GBP Chapter 661: The Imperial Master
Chapter 661: The Imperial Master
"Donor, you may know that the amulet you are wearing around your neck was blessed by the former abbot of our Daxiangguo Temple. The amulets he wrote are different from others, so I recognized it at a glance," explained the old monk.
"My parents told me that this was given to me by an old monk who came to my house to beg for alms when I was just born. He did claim to be from Daxiangguo Temple in the capital, but I didn't know that he was your former abbot. When I was in Lingyin Temple in Lin'an, I met a great monk who seemed to know this master," said Zhang Ping'an, touching the amulet on his neck.
The old monk was not surprised to hear this: "Senior Brother Xuan Jing holds a high reputation in the Buddhist community. Before the fall of the previous dynasty, many eminent monks from other regions would travel to the capital to listen to him preach Buddhism. Therefore, it is not surprising that someone in Lingyin Temple knew him."
"So that's how it is," Zhang Ping'an nodded and understood. It turned out that the person he met when he was a child was indeed a hermit master.
Then he asked curiously, "How is Master Xuan Jing now?"
"My senior brother passed away fifteen years ago," the old monk sighed.
"This... one flower is one world, one leaf is one Bodhi. Although the master has entered Nirvana, his Dharma sound will live on forever. May Master Xuan Jing be reborn in the Western Paradise." After Zhang Ping'an finished speaking, he respectfully faced the direction of the main Buddha in the main hall and saluted with his hands clasped together to show his respect.
Then he asked, "Master, have you not yet asked for your Dharma name?"
"Amitabha, I am Xuankong," the old monk replied.
"I remember my parents told me that Master Xuan Jing had a young disciple with him at that time. I wonder if he is doing well now? Meeting is fate. If he is practicing in Daxiangguo Temple, I would like to visit him," Zhang Pingan asked after thinking for a while.
"You are talking about my nephew Yuantong, right? He is now the new abbot of Daxiangguo Temple and the new national teacher of the Great Zhou Dynasty. However, he is definitely busy with today's Buddha Bathing Festival. If you are interested, you may come to visit me in two days. I will also convey his message to you."
"Okay, then I will come to visit you another day. I'm sorry to bother Master Xuankong today."
"You're welcome!" Xuankong stroked his beard and smiled kindly.
Pointing at the amulet, he said, "My senior brother's amulet is worth a fortune, so please keep it safe."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ping'an couldn't help but touch the thing on his neck again.
After expressing their gratitude together, they said goodbye and left.
After watching the person walk away, the young monk next to Xuankong asked in some confusion: "Master, why did you help this person to pass the message? Abbot Yuantong doesn't see outsiders easily now. Many princes from aristocratic families who asked to see him were turned away."
"This person is different," Xuankong narrowed his eyes with a meaningful expression on his face.
Then he calmly admonished his young disciple, "I usually tell you to study hard, but you always slack off. Even now, you can't even decipher a rune. After I pass away, who will protect you? You better be more careful!"
"Hey, isn't this because my Grandmaster is here?" the young monk said shyly, but then he vowed, "I will definitely study hard in the future and learn real skills from my Grandmaster!"
"Monks don't tell lies," Xuankong glanced at the silly disciple and shook his head helplessly.
The older he gets, the less energy he has. Most of the monks of his age have passed away, and it looks like he won’t be far away either!
Looking at the direction where Zhang Ping'an and the others walked away, Xuankong thought of his good nephew Yuantong. He really didn't look like his senior brother, nor did he look like a monk.
More like a politician!
I don't know if he can stick to his original intention.
On Zhang Ping'an's side, after leaving the yard, several people were also discussing the former abbot, Master Xuan Jing.
"I didn't expect that Ping'an had such an opportunity when you were young. My father told me about Master Xuan Jing when I was a child, but it's a pity that I never had the chance to meet him," said Lord Huang regretfully.
"I've never heard of it in Lin'an. Maybe I was too young at that time," said Green Eyes curiously.
"I was always sick when I was a child, so my father asked around and heard about Master Xuan Jing. He originally wanted to take me to draw fortunes and pay a visit to him, but later my illness gradually improved, and Master Xuan Jing was also difficult to see, so we didn't go," explained Lord Huang.
"So that's how it is! Only such a prestigious and enlightened monk would travel around with his little disciple, sleeping in the open air, which must be extremely hard!" Liu Shuisheng sighed.
"Who said it wasn't?" Liu Sanlang nodded in agreement, and for a moment he admired the master very much.
Lord Huang continued, "I've also heard a little about the Imperial Preceptor that Master Xuankong just mentioned. He's said to be highly accomplished in Buddhism, and he assisted in presiding over the capital relocation ceremony. I've also heard he's very skilled in metaphysics and numerology, such as divination, feng shui, and fortune-telling. People like him are very important assistants to the emperor. Although their titles appear to be empty and they don't receive a salary, no one dares to underestimate them."
"Tsk tsk, that's incredible!" Green Eyes clicked his tongue twice, agreeing with what was said in his heart.
"But people like this generally have a characteristic, which is that they pay attention to fate. Maybe Ping An will really have the opportunity to visit him in person. I know that you are easy-going, but after all, the other party is not an ordinary person, so you still have to be cautious and pious."
Zhang Ping'an knew that Mr. Huang was reminding him to seize this opportunity. If he could have a good relationship with Abbot Yuantong, it would be of immeasurable help to his future career in officialdom.
"Thank you, Brother Huang, for the reminder," Zhang Pingan was grateful for the favor.
"I heard that Daxiangguo Temple is giving away fragrant beans and five-color fragrant soup for free today. Why don't we go and take a look now?" Liu Sanlang suggested.
He is quite enthusiastic about Buddhist events. When he was a child, he followed his grandmother to the temple to burn incense, but it was a rare event that only happened once or twice a year. Now that he grew up, he felt embarrassed to follow his grandmothers.
Fragrant beans are actually candied broad beans, but after being blessed by monks and placed in front of the Buddha to be bathed in the Buddha's light, they immediately become different in the eyes of the people.
Since sweet potato candy became popular among the people, it has become less difficult for ordinary people to eat candy.
The five-color fragrant soup is made by boiling various precious spices, and most of the ingredients are donated by wealthy families or the royal family.
"Okay, then let's go to the charity shed first!" Mr. Huang nodded in response.
He is the oldest, so everyone usually asks for his opinion first. Once he nods, others will naturally follow suit.
Everyone moved to the place where alms were given and just lined up to receive the fragrant soup and fragrant beans.
Then they heard a roar from the crowd, "The prince is coming in a sedan chair!"